Vehicle-lamp



F. H. HEADLEY.

VEHICLE LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1920.

Patented Aug. 23, '1921.

' to the lamp interior.

I UNITED STATES PATENT orncs.

FREDERICK HAGGER HEADLEY, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

VEHICLE-LAMP.

Application filed February 26, 1920. Serial No. 361,516.

To all w from it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK HAGGER HEADLEY, a subject of the Kingdom of Great Britain, residin at Kingscroft', 53 Woodlands road, Nort field, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, England, manufacturer, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in or Relating to Vehicle- Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprises certain improvements in or relating to lamps suitable for use in'connection with motor cycles, cars, cycles and like vehicles, and has among its several objects to simplify the construction of lamps, reduce the cost of manufacture and facilitate the process of lighting same. The invention is applicable to lamps of varied construction and types,'adapted to be illuminated by acetylene gas, oil or electricity.

According to the present invention a lamp is provided in which the roof or upper portion thereof constitutes the means of access Furthermore means are furnished whereby the raising or opening of th cover or roof portion automatically effects the displacement of the lamp burner into a position nearer to the said roof, thereby facilitating the lighting of the lamp or other required operation, while the closing of the cover automatically lowers the burner into its normal position within the lamp. In connection with oil illuminated lamps the opening and closing of the cover or roof portion is adapted to automatically raise and lower the oil vessel complete with burner, suitable provision being made for accommodating said oil vessel, such vessel being readily assembled in position or removed from the lamp when the roof portion is raised. In connection with electrically lighted lamps the opening or raising of the roof portion effects the raising of the electric lamp and enables same to be readily assembled within and disassembled from its socket or other fitment at will. Means are also included whereby the closing of the cover or roof portion and the consequent replacement of the burner or other illuminating fitment is automatically effected on releasing the hold upon the raised roof portion.

Means are also furnished in this invention whereby a lamp of the above type may be formed by bending up or equivalently working from one piece of sheet metal.

. .n order that this invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent ed Aug. 23, 1921.

reference may be had to the appended explanatory sheet of drawings, upon which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rear lamp constructed in accordance with the present invention, the lamp being shown in one with a number plate which is broken away. a

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the lamp in the open position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation through the lamp.

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan of the lamp.

In a convenient embodiment of this invention, which will be described with reference to a rear lamp, adapted to be illustrated by actylene gas, the lamp casing or walls a. are of square or rectangular shape in plan and are constructed from one sheet of metal, part of said sheet constituting the number or name plate a which extends out from the side of the lamp casing a.

The roof or cover b comprises a plate member hinged at its one edge to the upper edge of the one side or wall of the lamp casing, the hinge being advantageously formed by bending one or more integral tongue pieces I) of the plate through apertures 72 in the lamp wall. The front free edge b of the cover 6 may project in front of the car'- ing to constitute a gripping portion for facilitating the opening of the cover. Secured upon the under side of the cover ad- Vantageously near the front free edge thereof is a U-shaped member 0 having two downwardlyv projecting arms 0 said memthe cover I). To the arm 0 the upper eX- tremities of link members d are pivotally connected, which links extend down into the lamp casing and are pivotally connected or hinged at their lower extremities to lugs or tongue pieces 6 furnished on plate or disk port-ion e which encircles the burner tube 7 and is retained in position thereon by screwing or otherwise fixing in the burner tube 7 the burner. g. The burner tube f extends down through apertures in one or more transverse plate members 0 secured across the lower part of the lamp casing a, said plates 0 permitting the upward and down ward movement of the burner tube but retaining same-substantially rigid laterally. Encircling the lower downwardly extending portion of the burner tube f is a coiled spring h bearing on its upper end beneath the lower plate 0 and on its lower end upon connection 5. The upper part of the lamp casing is advantageously cut or shaped so as to slope downwardly from the hinges The above arrangement is such that when the lamp cover or lid 6 is closed the burner g is located in the normal position within the casing in alinement with the usual win: dow or windows j, the burner and also the cover I) being securely retained in such position by the spring h thereby dispensing with the use'of any catches or equivalent securing means for the cover. hen the cover Z) is raised, the links d are drawn upwardly and raise along with same the burner g and tube f against the influence of spring h, the raising of the lid 6 bringing the burner to a position in close proximity to the top of the lamp, in which position a match or the like is easily applied thereto. On the underside of the cover a striking surface is is furnished along which the match can be drawn in a downward direction and applied immediately to the burner. The connection of the links d to the lid or cover at a considerable distance from the hinge thereof, causes the upper link connections during the opening and closing movement to travel through a comparatively large are, thereby displacing the burner vertically to a considerable extent. On releasing the hold upon the cover I) said cover and burner g automatically move back again into their normal position under the influence. of' spring h, which spring has been retained in a compressed state while the lid and burner are raised.

Instead of assembling the plate member 6 to which the links d are connected around the slidable tube f same may bev assembled around a stationary tube within which the burner tube f is located, elongated slots being furnished in the stationary tube for placing the plate member 6 in communication with the burner tube and effecting the raising and lowering movement thereofp Furthermore instead of the plate member 0 being furnished, projections may be formed upon or secured to the burner tube 7 for the connection to the links 03.

Where the present invention is employed in connection with an oil lamp, the oil vessel complete with burner is suitably screwed or assembled within a plate or socket adapted to slide vertically within'the casing a, the links at being secured to said socket or other convenient part for effecting the movement of the burner.

In the case of electrically lighted lamps, the electric bulb or other fitment isfixed within a suitable socket which socket is slidablv assembled within the casing a and has connected thereto the links d.

The lid or cover I) is advantageously of plain fiat formation as illustrated, but same may be of span, rounded or dome shape and may have, if desired, an overturned rim adapted to overhang the upper edges of the casing a. Instead ofproviding two links at, a single side link may be furnished adapted to operate in a manner similar to that before described, a vertical slot being furnished in the casing a for accommodatin the usual turn screw for manipulating the b urner wick; When the lamp casin a is formed in one with a number or name plate 01 the bentoverpart constituting the casing w is securely connected to the part a in any suitable manner such as by furnishing tongues on the casino a; adapted to passthrough and be riveted over on the rear side of plate ai The lamp may however be combined with a 'num ber plate bv' means of clips or any other suitable connections, and where same isused as a rear lamp the usual side and rear windows 7' are furnished of any desired shape, and a window or aperture Z may also be furnished as a pilot-light adapted to shine on the road for enablin the driver while riding to ascertain whether the lamp is alight.

The ventilation of thelamp is provided for by openings or perforationsm at the upper part of the casinga and also by the large vent holes at at the bottom of the lamp, cold air enteringsaid vent holes a and hot air leaving by openings m,- I v The construction and arrangement of the parts for effecting the raising and lou' ering of the lamp burner may be varied in many.

ways within the sco e of the present invention. For instance, one or more springs or other resillent media may be located within the casing a instead of at the exterior thereof for automaticall lower-in" the burner and lid.

frame of a spring seat of a saddle at the rear of the cycle, in such a manner that the shocks emanating from the jolting or shaking of the cycle due to the uneven surface of the,

hen the lamp is used in connection with motor cycles as a rear lamp, same is advan-' tageously attached to, or secured upon the lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secureby Letters Patent is-:- l

A lamp comprlsing a casing open at the top and provided with ahinged cover for the top, a burnerarranged in thecasing for vertical movement, a spring to normallydepress the burner, and a link connecting theburner and the cover. s I V In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' FREDERICK HAGGER HEADLEYQ 

